Biz Bits: people and businesses in the news

Group Health Cooperative says that three candidates were elected to three-year terms on the board of trustees at the annual membership meeting on Oct. 5 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. The board members are Susan Byington, Jennifer Joly and Dorothy A. Ruzicki.

Keller Williams Realty Marysville has hired Tonja Wortham as CEO and team leader. Responsible for the success of the North Snohomish County office in Marysville, Wortham will focus on growing the brokers' businesses and their market center. Wortham most recently served as business development director at Mortgage Advisory Group.

Gateway Physical and Hand Therapy recently hired two new physical therapists at the Mill Creek location. Ben Fedewa graduated from Grand Valley State University, where he received a doctorate in physical therapy. Craig Buning also holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Grand Valley State University. He has spent time at several clinics in Illinois and Michigan.

Kudos

Paine Field director Dave Waggoner earned high honors from the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. The group named Waggoner Airport Executive of the Year at its annual banquet on Oct. 1. Waggoner has served as the Paine Field director for more than 22 years following a 26-year career in the Navy.

Good deeds

St. Vincent de Paul North Sound Council has announced a $3,000 donation from the BNSF Railway Foundation for the Beds for Children program. The funds will purchase beds for children who often have to sleep on the floor. St.

Ford Motor Company Fund is awarding $50,000 in college scholarships to high school students in the Puget Sound area who have parents actively serving in the military. With support from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation, which is the program's contest administrator, winners will be selected based on student essays. Eligible students can apply online through Oct. 31 at www.smeef.org/scholarships/page/ford-motor-company-fund-operation-education-1.

Events

Community Solar Solutions is bringing a Go Solar campaign to Snohomish County. The first of four informational workshops is at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sno-Isle Natural Food Co-op on Grand Avenue in Everett. It includes information on special bulk-buying discounts and other money-saving programs. Details are available at www.GoSolarSnohomish.com.

The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce will hold the next Business After Hours event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at 1098 State Ave., Marysville. The host is Cash America. There will be complimentary snacks and beverages and a chance to win jewelry. Please RSVP to admin@marysvilletulalipchamber.com to reserve a spot.

The date for the eigth annual Evening in Silk Dinner and Auction to benefit Cocoon House has been changed to Friday. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd., near Marysville. Tickets are $80 per person. To register please visit secure.qgiv.com/for/cocoonhouse/event/35996.

McClain Insurance Services and the Better Business Bureau of Western Washington are teaming up for a document shredding and cellphone recycling event. Citizens are invited to bring sensitive documents from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday to the McClain Insurance at 10410 19th Ave. SE in Everett, just south of Costco.

Anytime Fitness, a 24-hour co-ed fitness franchise, is open for business at Snohomish Station. A grand opening celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 11 a.m. To celebrate, Anytime Fitness Snohomish is offering a special sale and free tanning.

The second annual Brew & Bluegrass Clothes for Kids fundraiser is from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Edmonds Senior Center. Adult tickets are $35 and include eight tastings of beer or wine. There will be live music by bluegrass bands and raffles. Tickets and more information are at www.clothesforkids.org.

Goodwill stores will have costume consultants available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October to help shoppers create a unique look for Halloween parties and celebrations. Additional help on how classic costumes can be created using different items found at Goodwill is available at www.seattlegoodwill.org/halloween.

A free informational seminar for those who have learning differences, dyslexia, ADD and ADHD is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 at City University. This is a new date for the event. City University is at 1000 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 101. For more information, call Liz Bertran at 425-231-9705.

A traditional Robiraki Chakai, a tea ceremony, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Everett Community College's Nippon Business Institute. Admission is $15 per person. Participants must be 16 or older. A parking pass for campus parking is included. Registration is required. Contact Kathleen Koss at kkoss@everettcc.edu or 425-388-9195.

Announcements

United Way of Snohomish County is looking for volunteers to serve on the board of directors, marketing committee, public policy committee, Kids Matter Vision Council, Families Matter Vision Council, Community Matters Vision Council, the endowment and planned giving committee and the community conversations committee. More information and a volunteer inquiry form are available at www.uwsc.org/committees.php.

Safe Harbor Clinic in Stanwood is offering appointments with trained volunteers to help individuals and families look into health-care coverage. Call 425-870-7384 to set up an appointment. The Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center also has written information and navigator appointments for health care coverage sign-up assistance. For more information, call 425-314-9269.

Arlington Mayor Barb Tolbert broke ground at the site for Scott Galvanzing Co.'s new, larger location at 6010 199th St. NE. Scott Galvanizing is presently operating in Seattle. The new facility will open in February.

Colin Baenziger and Associates will recruit Mountlake Terrace's new city manager. Located in Florida, CB&A has already conducted city manager recruitments for Bellevue, Medina, Normandy Park, Sunnyside, Tacoma, Yakima and Fife. Former Richland City Manager John Darrington serves as CB&A's manager in Washington.

The Better Business Bureau and the Washington State Attorney General's Office have announced their participation as partners in a global cyber security awareness campaign called Stop.Think.Connect. The program is designed to help digital citizens stay safer and more secure online. During October, visit BBB's Facebook page and the AGO's Internet Safety page for more cyber security information.

Mountlake Terrace residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications through an emergency management alert system. Public enrollment in the county's MyStateUSA Alert Sense System began in 2011. To sign up, go to www.cityofmlt.com and click on the Public Alert Sign Up link.

The Washington Employment Security Department reports that the August 2013 Snohomish County unemployment rate was 6.2 percent. From August 2012 to August 2013, 3,800 jobs were added to the Snohomish County economy. Employment in Snohomish County's manufacturing sector has been falling throughout 2013. Construction employment is gaining momentum.

Biz Bits runs Monday through Saturday in The Herald and on Monday at HeraldNet.com/bizblog. Send your news and high-resolution color photos to businessnews@heraldnet.com.

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